As part of TECH Europe’s unwavering commitment to advancing tire repair standards and safety across Europe, our team recently had the pleasure of visiting ABR (Atlantique Bretagne Rechapage) in France – one of our valued partners who are part of the renowned Groupe Simon network.
The visit marked a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to deliver industry-leading tire repair training. TECH’s own Walter van Loon and Volodymyr Bagdasarian travelled to ABR’s impressive facility to conduct a comprehensive training seminar and perform a thorough annual audit.
ABR, a Bandag-certified retread operation, has both hot and pre-cure retread systems in place and a capacity to retread more than 30,000 truck tires annually. ABR plays a crucial role in maintaining safety, sustainability, and efficiency within the Groupe Simon network.
Covering TECH’s leading tire repair materials including our Thermacure range of repair patches, Walter & Volodymyr focused on sharing best practices, reinforcing repair standards, and ensuring that every technician involved in the process maintains the highest level of skill and precision.
Why Tire Repair Training Matters
Proper tire repair training is far more than a box-ticking exercise. It ensures that every retread or repair carried out meets strict safety standards, extends the life of valuable tires, and contributes to a more sustainable tire lifecycle. Aligned with TRC’s 4R Vision – Repair, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose – this training approach reinforces the importance of maximizing the life and value of every tire. With the right training, technicians can identify repairable damage correctly, apply appropriate techniques, and avoid costly mistakes that can compromise road safety or lead to unnecessary waste.
TECH Europe’s mission is to support our partners with not only premium materials and tools but also the knowledge and technical excellence required to implement them. Our training programmes are designed to be hands-on, audit-based, and aligned with the latest global standards in tire repair.
A Long-Term Partnership
Our visit to ABR is just one example of how we work collaboratively with our partners across Europe. We don’t just provide products – we build relationships, support business growth, and help our partners maintain a competitive edge in a demanding market.
We are proud to support ABR and the wider Groupe Simon network, and we look forward to continuing our shared journey toward excellence in tire repair and retreading.
About Groupe Simon
Founded in 1974 by Michel Simon in Morlaix, Groupe Simon began as a small tire dealership and quickly expanded across western France. Its growth accelerated in the late 1980s through strategic acquisitions, including Nantes Pneumatiques and CAP in Quimper, which bolstered its re-treading capabilities. Today, Groupe Simon operates across three core areas: retail through the Profil + network with over 85 agencies, wholesale distribution via Chrono SLPA Pneus delivering over one million tires annually, and industrial re-treading through ABR, France’s leading independent re-treader. By 2025, the company employs approximately 1,400 people, generates €300–310 million in revenue, and stands as France’s top independent tire distributor. It is also a founding member of the national Profil + network, which collectively serves about 25% of the French heavy truck tire market.
To find out more, please visit the ABR website and Groupe Simon website.
